How do I force Chrome to save a PDF instead of opening it?












-1















I am viewing a site (which is password-protected/access-controlled so I cannot post a link here) which has some PDF documents. When I click on a link to a PDF document, Chrome opens the file in my system default PDF viewer, which is an external application (but it is not an Adobe product). From that application, I can see that the file it's viewing is in a Chrome temporary directory.



When I click on a link to a non-PDF document (e.g. PPT), the file downloads (with my configuration, I'm asked where I want to download it to; with other configs it might go to the Downloads directory). I can then click on the file in the list of completed downloads if I want to open it. I would like the same behavior when the file is a PDF.



Sometimes, my main goal of downloading the PDF is to save it for future reference, not to open/read/use it right away. In those cases, I wouldn't necessarily click to open. Either way, it is important that the file be saved to its reference location first, so I know it's saved there and I won't forget to do Save As after opening in the external viewer.



This is basically the opposite question of that one, except that I'm not using Chrome's internal PDF viewer. The non-use of the internal PDF viewer also distinguishes this question from that one. Also, unlike that question, the web server reliably delivers the same file every time I click on the link; repeat fetching is not a problem. For the purpose of this question, please assume I do not control the web server nor have any influence over those who do.



I checked chrome://settings -> Advanced -> Downloads. The toggle "Ask where to save each file before downloading" is active (on). Previously there was also a setting which said something like "You have chosen to open certain file types automatically after downloading" with a button "Clear auto-opening settings." Clicking that button made that line in Settings go away, but did not fix the problem.



I also checked Google Support, which says the following to get an opposite result:




On your computer, open Chrome.

At the top right, click More More and then Settings.

At the bottom, click Advanced.

Under "Privacy and security," click Content settings.

Near the bottom, click PDF documents.

Turn off Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome.




I followed these steps with the final one opposite, but it did not change browser behavior. This question does not apply because I don't have the Adobe plugin. When I go to chrome://settings -> Advanced -> Privacy and Security -> Content Settings -> PDF documents, or go directly to chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments, the only option visible is "Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome" and that is already set to true/active/selected.



I am not logged into Chrome with a Chrome account (and do not wish to change that).










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    Possible duplicate of Stop PDFs from displaying inside Google Chrome

    – music2myear
    Dec 18 '18 at 16:31











  • I've tested the solution in the linked question and confirmed that the setting is still there and that it still works, even considering my system-default PDF viewer is not Chrome.

    – music2myear
    Dec 18 '18 at 16:34













  • To support what @music2myear already said, I just tested the accepted solution within the Possible duplicate question utilizing this simple Microsoft hyperlink, and it works perfectly. That leads me to believe that there is something very unusual in your operating system and/or browser configuration that is causing this problem.

    – Run5k
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:28











  • @Run5k The accepted solution in the possible duplicate question is disabling the Adobe plugin. I don't have the Adobe plugin; never installed it in the first place. Disabling something that isn't there is not a solution that answers this question.

    – WBT
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:30








  • 1





    @Run5k Yet this question can't be answered by the same answer that worked for the other one, because the asker in the other question had a plugin installed that needed to be disabled. That plugin doesn't exist here, and it's a critical difference in how to answer the question. (Link is from Meta.SE FAQ)

    – WBT
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:55


















-1















I am viewing a site (which is password-protected/access-controlled so I cannot post a link here) which has some PDF documents. When I click on a link to a PDF document, Chrome opens the file in my system default PDF viewer, which is an external application (but it is not an Adobe product). From that application, I can see that the file it's viewing is in a Chrome temporary directory.



When I click on a link to a non-PDF document (e.g. PPT), the file downloads (with my configuration, I'm asked where I want to download it to; with other configs it might go to the Downloads directory). I can then click on the file in the list of completed downloads if I want to open it. I would like the same behavior when the file is a PDF.



Sometimes, my main goal of downloading the PDF is to save it for future reference, not to open/read/use it right away. In those cases, I wouldn't necessarily click to open. Either way, it is important that the file be saved to its reference location first, so I know it's saved there and I won't forget to do Save As after opening in the external viewer.



This is basically the opposite question of that one, except that I'm not using Chrome's internal PDF viewer. The non-use of the internal PDF viewer also distinguishes this question from that one. Also, unlike that question, the web server reliably delivers the same file every time I click on the link; repeat fetching is not a problem. For the purpose of this question, please assume I do not control the web server nor have any influence over those who do.



I checked chrome://settings -> Advanced -> Downloads. The toggle "Ask where to save each file before downloading" is active (on). Previously there was also a setting which said something like "You have chosen to open certain file types automatically after downloading" with a button "Clear auto-opening settings." Clicking that button made that line in Settings go away, but did not fix the problem.



I also checked Google Support, which says the following to get an opposite result:




On your computer, open Chrome.

At the top right, click More More and then Settings.

At the bottom, click Advanced.

Under "Privacy and security," click Content settings.

Near the bottom, click PDF documents.

Turn off Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome.




I followed these steps with the final one opposite, but it did not change browser behavior. This question does not apply because I don't have the Adobe plugin. When I go to chrome://settings -> Advanced -> Privacy and Security -> Content Settings -> PDF documents, or go directly to chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments, the only option visible is "Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome" and that is already set to true/active/selected.



I am not logged into Chrome with a Chrome account (and do not wish to change that).










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    Possible duplicate of Stop PDFs from displaying inside Google Chrome

    – music2myear
    Dec 18 '18 at 16:31











  • I've tested the solution in the linked question and confirmed that the setting is still there and that it still works, even considering my system-default PDF viewer is not Chrome.

    – music2myear
    Dec 18 '18 at 16:34













  • To support what @music2myear already said, I just tested the accepted solution within the Possible duplicate question utilizing this simple Microsoft hyperlink, and it works perfectly. That leads me to believe that there is something very unusual in your operating system and/or browser configuration that is causing this problem.

    – Run5k
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:28











  • @Run5k The accepted solution in the possible duplicate question is disabling the Adobe plugin. I don't have the Adobe plugin; never installed it in the first place. Disabling something that isn't there is not a solution that answers this question.

    – WBT
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:30








  • 1





    @Run5k Yet this question can't be answered by the same answer that worked for the other one, because the asker in the other question had a plugin installed that needed to be disabled. That plugin doesn't exist here, and it's a critical difference in how to answer the question. (Link is from Meta.SE FAQ)

    – WBT
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:55
















-1












-1








-1








I am viewing a site (which is password-protected/access-controlled so I cannot post a link here) which has some PDF documents. When I click on a link to a PDF document, Chrome opens the file in my system default PDF viewer, which is an external application (but it is not an Adobe product). From that application, I can see that the file it's viewing is in a Chrome temporary directory.



When I click on a link to a non-PDF document (e.g. PPT), the file downloads (with my configuration, I'm asked where I want to download it to; with other configs it might go to the Downloads directory). I can then click on the file in the list of completed downloads if I want to open it. I would like the same behavior when the file is a PDF.



Sometimes, my main goal of downloading the PDF is to save it for future reference, not to open/read/use it right away. In those cases, I wouldn't necessarily click to open. Either way, it is important that the file be saved to its reference location first, so I know it's saved there and I won't forget to do Save As after opening in the external viewer.



This is basically the opposite question of that one, except that I'm not using Chrome's internal PDF viewer. The non-use of the internal PDF viewer also distinguishes this question from that one. Also, unlike that question, the web server reliably delivers the same file every time I click on the link; repeat fetching is not a problem. For the purpose of this question, please assume I do not control the web server nor have any influence over those who do.



I checked chrome://settings -> Advanced -> Downloads. The toggle "Ask where to save each file before downloading" is active (on). Previously there was also a setting which said something like "You have chosen to open certain file types automatically after downloading" with a button "Clear auto-opening settings." Clicking that button made that line in Settings go away, but did not fix the problem.



I also checked Google Support, which says the following to get an opposite result:




On your computer, open Chrome.

At the top right, click More More and then Settings.

At the bottom, click Advanced.

Under "Privacy and security," click Content settings.

Near the bottom, click PDF documents.

Turn off Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome.




I followed these steps with the final one opposite, but it did not change browser behavior. This question does not apply because I don't have the Adobe plugin. When I go to chrome://settings -> Advanced -> Privacy and Security -> Content Settings -> PDF documents, or go directly to chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments, the only option visible is "Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome" and that is already set to true/active/selected.



I am not logged into Chrome with a Chrome account (and do not wish to change that).










share|improve this question
















I am viewing a site (which is password-protected/access-controlled so I cannot post a link here) which has some PDF documents. When I click on a link to a PDF document, Chrome opens the file in my system default PDF viewer, which is an external application (but it is not an Adobe product). From that application, I can see that the file it's viewing is in a Chrome temporary directory.



When I click on a link to a non-PDF document (e.g. PPT), the file downloads (with my configuration, I'm asked where I want to download it to; with other configs it might go to the Downloads directory). I can then click on the file in the list of completed downloads if I want to open it. I would like the same behavior when the file is a PDF.



Sometimes, my main goal of downloading the PDF is to save it for future reference, not to open/read/use it right away. In those cases, I wouldn't necessarily click to open. Either way, it is important that the file be saved to its reference location first, so I know it's saved there and I won't forget to do Save As after opening in the external viewer.



This is basically the opposite question of that one, except that I'm not using Chrome's internal PDF viewer. The non-use of the internal PDF viewer also distinguishes this question from that one. Also, unlike that question, the web server reliably delivers the same file every time I click on the link; repeat fetching is not a problem. For the purpose of this question, please assume I do not control the web server nor have any influence over those who do.



I checked chrome://settings -> Advanced -> Downloads. The toggle "Ask where to save each file before downloading" is active (on). Previously there was also a setting which said something like "You have chosen to open certain file types automatically after downloading" with a button "Clear auto-opening settings." Clicking that button made that line in Settings go away, but did not fix the problem.



I also checked Google Support, which says the following to get an opposite result:




On your computer, open Chrome.

At the top right, click More More and then Settings.

At the bottom, click Advanced.

Under "Privacy and security," click Content settings.

Near the bottom, click PDF documents.

Turn off Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome.




I followed these steps with the final one opposite, but it did not change browser behavior. This question does not apply because I don't have the Adobe plugin. When I go to chrome://settings -> Advanced -> Privacy and Security -> Content Settings -> PDF documents, or go directly to chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments, the only option visible is "Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome" and that is already set to true/active/selected.



I am not logged into Chrome with a Chrome account (and do not wish to change that).







windows-10 google-chrome browser pdf download






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Dec 18 '18 at 16:55







WBT

















asked Dec 18 '18 at 16:27









WBTWBT

70521232




70521232








  • 1





    Possible duplicate of Stop PDFs from displaying inside Google Chrome

    – music2myear
    Dec 18 '18 at 16:31











  • I've tested the solution in the linked question and confirmed that the setting is still there and that it still works, even considering my system-default PDF viewer is not Chrome.

    – music2myear
    Dec 18 '18 at 16:34













  • To support what @music2myear already said, I just tested the accepted solution within the Possible duplicate question utilizing this simple Microsoft hyperlink, and it works perfectly. That leads me to believe that there is something very unusual in your operating system and/or browser configuration that is causing this problem.

    – Run5k
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:28











  • @Run5k The accepted solution in the possible duplicate question is disabling the Adobe plugin. I don't have the Adobe plugin; never installed it in the first place. Disabling something that isn't there is not a solution that answers this question.

    – WBT
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:30








  • 1





    @Run5k Yet this question can't be answered by the same answer that worked for the other one, because the asker in the other question had a plugin installed that needed to be disabled. That plugin doesn't exist here, and it's a critical difference in how to answer the question. (Link is from Meta.SE FAQ)

    – WBT
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:55
















  • 1





    Possible duplicate of Stop PDFs from displaying inside Google Chrome

    – music2myear
    Dec 18 '18 at 16:31











  • I've tested the solution in the linked question and confirmed that the setting is still there and that it still works, even considering my system-default PDF viewer is not Chrome.

    – music2myear
    Dec 18 '18 at 16:34













  • To support what @music2myear already said, I just tested the accepted solution within the Possible duplicate question utilizing this simple Microsoft hyperlink, and it works perfectly. That leads me to believe that there is something very unusual in your operating system and/or browser configuration that is causing this problem.

    – Run5k
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:28











  • @Run5k The accepted solution in the possible duplicate question is disabling the Adobe plugin. I don't have the Adobe plugin; never installed it in the first place. Disabling something that isn't there is not a solution that answers this question.

    – WBT
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:30








  • 1





    @Run5k Yet this question can't be answered by the same answer that worked for the other one, because the asker in the other question had a plugin installed that needed to be disabled. That plugin doesn't exist here, and it's a critical difference in how to answer the question. (Link is from Meta.SE FAQ)

    – WBT
    Dec 18 '18 at 17:55










1




1





Possible duplicate of Stop PDFs from displaying inside Google Chrome

– music2myear
Dec 18 '18 at 16:31





Possible duplicate of Stop PDFs from displaying inside Google Chrome

– music2myear
Dec 18 '18 at 16:31













I've tested the solution in the linked question and confirmed that the setting is still there and that it still works, even considering my system-default PDF viewer is not Chrome.

– music2myear
Dec 18 '18 at 16:34







I've tested the solution in the linked question and confirmed that the setting is still there and that it still works, even considering my system-default PDF viewer is not Chrome.

– music2myear
Dec 18 '18 at 16:34















To support what @music2myear already said, I just tested the accepted solution within the Possible duplicate question utilizing this simple Microsoft hyperlink, and it works perfectly. That leads me to believe that there is something very unusual in your operating system and/or browser configuration that is causing this problem.

– Run5k
Dec 18 '18 at 17:28





To support what @music2myear already said, I just tested the accepted solution within the Possible duplicate question utilizing this simple Microsoft hyperlink, and it works perfectly. That leads me to believe that there is something very unusual in your operating system and/or browser configuration that is causing this problem.

– Run5k
Dec 18 '18 at 17:28













@Run5k The accepted solution in the possible duplicate question is disabling the Adobe plugin. I don't have the Adobe plugin; never installed it in the first place. Disabling something that isn't there is not a solution that answers this question.

– WBT
Dec 18 '18 at 17:30







@Run5k The accepted solution in the possible duplicate question is disabling the Adobe plugin. I don't have the Adobe plugin; never installed it in the first place. Disabling something that isn't there is not a solution that answers this question.

– WBT
Dec 18 '18 at 17:30






1




1





@Run5k Yet this question can't be answered by the same answer that worked for the other one, because the asker in the other question had a plugin installed that needed to be disabled. That plugin doesn't exist here, and it's a critical difference in how to answer the question. (Link is from Meta.SE FAQ)

– WBT
Dec 18 '18 at 17:55







@Run5k Yet this question can't be answered by the same answer that worked for the other one, because the asker in the other question had a plugin installed that needed to be disabled. That plugin doesn't exist here, and it's a critical difference in how to answer the question. (Link is from Meta.SE FAQ)

– WBT
Dec 18 '18 at 17:55












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